Window regulator



Jan. 6, 1953 w. L. DENNIS wmnow REGULATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June '7, 1950 (Ittomags Jall- 1953 w. DENNIS 2,624,570

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed June 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 an 7am 41 55h.

Gttornegs WINDOW REGULATOR Gttomegs W. L. DENNIS WINDOW REGULATOR flan. 6, 1953 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed June '7, 1950 3nventor [W Qttomegs Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE WINDOW REGULATOR William L. Dennis, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware 3 Claims.

This invention relates to ventilators for vehicles and particularly to manually operated regulators therefor.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for and method of regulating the position of a ventilating window mounted for movement about a vertical axis on an automobile.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a ventilating window mounted in the door or in a wall of an automobile or similar vehicle for swinging movement about a vertical axis can be adjusted relative to the door or wall by a slide bar or operating member within the vehicle having a back and forth horizontal direction of movement along the door or wall.

A further object of my invention is to provide a regulating means for adjusting a ventilating window of a vehicle with a toggle-like connection or mechanism which is rendered effective by closing the window for locking same against movement from exteriorly of the vehicle.

A still further and more specific object of my invention is to combine the features enumerated in the foregoing objects to provide an improved practical ventilator window for a vehicle the operating member of which will more readily blend with certain interior trims in vehicles and which locking window regulating means eliminates the necessity of providing the window with'a separate or additional locking device.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanyme drawings, wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of the interior of an automobile having my improved window ventilator embodied in the door thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing a toggle mechanism of the window regulating means in a position which locks the window closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the window regulating means located between inner and outer wall panels of the automobile door;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showing the toggle mechanism of the window regulating means released;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of z;

the window regulating means with parts thereof broken away for illustrative purposes;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and shows the window regulating means in a position holding the window open;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-B of Fig. '7 showing a toggle mechanism of the modified window regulating means in a position locking the window closed;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 8 and shows the toggle mechanism associated with the regulating means released;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figs. 8 and 9 showing the window regulating means in a position holding the window open;

Fig. 11 is a top view of the window regulating means taken in the direction of the arrows I I in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 11, showing a cut-out portion on one of the elements of the regulating means.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 thereof a portion of the interior of an automobile which includes walls normally consisting of inner and outer panels and forming an enclosed body having doors providing entrance thereinto. Such doors also form wall portions of the automobile body. The body i4 is entirely enclosed by the walls thereof and by glass windows provided therein. The body M has the usual windshield 15 in the front portion thereof and the door wall part 16 of the body M includes a window ll and suitable mechanism connected to a crank arm ill for raising and/or lowering the door window 11. A handle I!) may operate a latching mechanism for releasing the door IE to permit it to be swung open. The door wall Hi of the automobile body l4 also includes a wing-like glass window 21 which is pivotally mounted in the door for swinging movement radially about the vertical axis of its mounting as is conventional and now well-known. Window 2| is a ventilator for the interior of body It and when it is swung at an angle to door It, to open the opening normally closed thereby, forward motion of the automobile creates a circulation of air into and out of the body [5. Such ventilators as window 2| in door 16 have heretofore been provided with a mechanism operable by a rotatable crank arm within the interior of the automobile body for opening and closing the same. In addition a separate lock for this window was required to prevent illegal entrance into the automobile by way of the ventilator window. My invention is particularly directed to the provision of a locking device in a window ventilator adjusting means that will lock the window in closed position to thereby eliminate the necessity of providing a lock for the window separate from the adjusting means. I also provide a slide bar member movable in a horizontal direction from within the automobile for releasing the locking device and operating the window adjusting means.

Referring again to the drawings the door wall portion 6 of body |4 includes an inner panel 23 secured to and spaced from an outer panel 24 (see Fig. 3). A finish or trim strip 26 extends along door |6"at the top of panel 23. This strip 26 is secured to door IS in any suitable or wellknown manner and may extend entirely around the windows I! and 2| of the 'door. A vertical channel 21 for window IT in door l5 separates window I! from the wing window sash 2| (see Fig. l). A rubber or the like gasket 28 secured to door l6 extends part way along the bottom of wing window 2| and has a part thereof clamped in a groove formed in reinforcing metal members 29 forming portions of the door structure (see Fig. 3). Wing window 2 I, when in its closed position, seals against channel 21 and gasket 28 to prevent leakage of rain into the automobile body. The top edge of wing window 2| is pivotally mounted to door It in any suitable and well-known manner (not shown). A U-shaped member 3| is secured to the window sash 2| and is provided with an integral depending mounting shaft 32 (see Figs. 3 and 5). Shaft 32 is located in vertical alignment with the top pivotal mounting of window 2! and is journaled in suitable openings or bearings provided in the panels 23 and 24 and reinforcing members 29 of the door IS. The axis of supporting shaft 32 is vertically aligned with the pivotal mounting at the top of window 2| and therefore serves to permit a swinging movement of this window radially about a vertical axis relative to the door l6 of the automobile body l4. Such movement of window 2| relative to its closed position uncovers a part of the opening normally closed thereby and causes, particularly when the automobile is in motion, the interior of the automobile body to be ventilated. The ventilator window 2| is provided with a regulating means for adjusting its angular position from within the body l4 relative to the door l6 to increase or decrease the amount of ventilation and/or to swing the window 2| into a fully open or fully closed position.

The regulating means for wing window or ventilator 2| in the embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings includes an operating lever or slide bar member 36 having its one end 31 pivotall mounted by a pin or the like 38 to a supporting bracket 39 (see Fig. 2). The base of bracket 39 is secured to the inside surface of inner panel 23 of door or wall l6 by screws or the like 4|. Operating member 36 has an end part 42 which projects through aligned horizontally elongated similar openings or slots 43 provided in the trim strip 26 and inner door panel 23 to permit actuation of the operating member of the window regulating means from within the body l5 of the automobile. A handle or knob 44 is secured in any suitable or conventional manner to the projecting end part 42 of member 36 for moving this slide;

bar member back and forth in a horizontal dl rection about its fulcrumed mounting 38 along the door It. A link or connector 43 has its one end 47 pivotally secured to member 36, intermediate the ends 37 and 42 thereof, by a pin or the like 48. This link 46 has its other end 49 pivotally secured, by a pin or the like 50, to one end 5| of a lever 52 which has its other end 53 pivotally supported, by a pin 54, upon a bracket 55. The bracket 55 has its base secured to the inside surface of inner door panel 23 by screws 56. Bracket 55 is provided with a part 51 offset relative to the part thereof which receives pin 54 (see Figs. 4 and 5) which offset part 5'! carries an upstanding pin or the like 58. Pin 58 is received in a bore 59, provided therefor in a clamping element 6| (see Fig. 5). Shaft 32 of window ventilator 2| is received between jaws of the clamping element 6| so as to be in vertical alignment with the pin 58 on offset portion 5'! of bracket 55. In other words the axis of rotation of shaft 32 is the center of pin 58 about which the clamping element 6| ma be rotated. Shaft 32 may, if desired, be elongated or made into a somewhat oval shape in cross-section, particularly at the end thereof which is clamped between the jaws of clamping element 6|, by a clamping bolt 62, so as to plOVide a better connection with the clamping element. Clamping element 6| is provided with a second bore 64 (see Fig. 5) spaced from the bore 59 and which receives a pin or the like 66 secured to and extending upwardly from one end 67 of a short link 68 disposed on substantially the same horizontal plane with bracket 55. This short link 68 has its other end 69 pivotally mounted to lever 52 by a pin located intermediate the ends 5| and 53 of this lever. Link 68 and its pivotal mountings 66 and 1| cooperate with the pivot pins 50 and 54 of lever 52 and with the pin 58 to provide a toggle-like joint connection or mechanism within the window regulating means as will be hereinafter described. It is to be understood that all of the parts of the regulating means for window 2| are located between and concealed by the inner and outer panels 23 and 24 of the wall portion or door l6 of the vehicle with the exception of the slide bar operating knob 44 which is exposed to the interior of the automobile. Such a concealed toggle mechanism serves as means to lock the window 2| in closed position and prevents illegal access to the interior of the body M of the automobile.

In Figs. 1 to 3 and 5 of the drawings the window regulating means is shown in a position closing the window 2| and locking the same in this position against movement from exteriorly of the automobile. It will be noted that the vertical axis of pins 50, II, 66 and 54 (see Fig. 2) are all in direct horizontal straight line alignment with one another and that when in this position any turning or swinging force applied to the window 2| from the exterior of body l4 and transmitted to pin 66, by way of shaft 32, element 6| and pin 58, is neutralized or rendered ineffective for moving toggle link 68 to release the same and cause movement of the regulating means. Thus window 2| remains in locked position until such time as the straight line horizontal alignment of the pins 50, II, 66 and 54 is disturbed, which can occur only by manipulation of the regulating means from inside the body 4. In Fig. 4 of the drawings I show connector link 46 as having been moved, by the operating member or slide bar 36, a short distance to the right whereby lever 52 is moved about its pivotal mounting 54 in a counterclockwisedirection. This short distance of movement of lever 52 has been caused to take place without creating any movement of pin 66 relative to the pins 54 and 58 and without swinging.

the window 21 away from its closed position. However, further and additional movement of the operating member or slide bar 36 and connector link 46 to the right, as viewed in the drawings, will rotate lever 52 in a counterclockwise direction to cause link 68 to apply a pulling force to the pivot pin 66 whereupon the clamping member 61, shaft 32 and consequently window 21. will be swung or rotated about the vertical axis of pin 56. Thus the angle of window 2| may be selectively altered relative to door 16 to cause ventilation of the interior of the automobile body 14. If it is desired to swing or rotate window 21 throughout an are greater than 135 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, sov as to cause the window to scoop air and direct it into the body 14, the operating member or slide bar 36 is moved horizontally within slot 43 to the back end of the slot. It is to be noted (see Fig. 6) that the clamping element 61 has been sufficiently rotated to swing the rear edge of the window 21 about its vertical axis, pin 58, into a forward position. When it is desired to lock the window 21 in its closed position the member or bar 36 is moved in a horizontal direction from within the automobile by knob 44 to its forward position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Such movement of the operating member rotates lever 52 in a clockwise direction and causes the vertical axis of pivot pins 50, 11, 66 and 54 to assume their straight line horizontal alignment so as to again render the toggle-like joint or mechanism effective to lock the window 21 closed and to prevent movement of its regulating means by force applied to the window from exteriorly of body 14.

The form of my invention disclosed in Figs. '1 to 12 of the drawings differs from that shown in Figs, '1 to 6 mainly in constructional details and arrangements which may be advantageous for mounting a window regulating means in a much thinner vertical space between inner and outer panels of a wall or door of an automobile. For example in the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6 horizontally disposed bars, links and levers are joined together by connections having vertical axes, whereas in the form of the device shown in Figs. 7 to 12 vertically disposed links and levers have connections movable about, horizontal axes. Referring now to Fig. 7 of the drawings I show an automobile door I I6 provided with inner and outer panels I23 and 124 respectively. a trim strip 126, reinforcing metal pieces I29, sealing gasket I28 and a ventilating wing window 121. The window 121 has its top edge suitably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and a rotatable shaft 132, provided with a U-shaped window receiving portion 131, forms the lower vertical axis of mounting for the window. Similar aligned horizontally elongated openings or slots 143 are provided in strip 26 and in the inner door panel 123 for receiving an operating slide bar member I36 projecting through the slots and provided with a knob M4 on its projecting end which is exposed to the interior of, the automobile. The inner end of operating member or bar 136 is threaded into or secured to a C-shaped in cross section connector piece 142 which receives and slidably fits over the upper portion of a lever 146. The lower end of lever 146 has two substantially corresponding cured upon a bracket 155 by screws 1.56. The Y bracket 155 is mounted upon the inner door panel 123 and a reinforcing sheet metal member 151 cooperating therewith by screws 156. The support 154 includes an elevated part 159 offset horizontally relative to the mounting of the fulcrum pin I53 and a shaft I61v is journaled in suitable openings provided therein. A lever 162 has afree end 163 and spaced apart legs I64 and 165 (see Figs. '1 and 11) at its other end which are locked or rigidly secured to the shaft or pm 161 for rotating the same and consequently a seg ment gear secured thereto. Shaft 161 is drivingly connected to shaft 132, for rotating the latter about a vertical axis within its upper bearings, formed by openings in panels 123, I24 and reinforced pieces I29, and a lower bearing 166, provided in a bracket 161 which is secured to the inner panel of door 116 by screws I68. Rotation of shaft 132 will swing the ventilator window 121. radially about its vertical mounting axis to adjust the position thereof relative to the door for ventilating the interior of the automobile body as hereinbefore described. Motion is transmitted to shaft 132 from the window regulating means through a bevel gear arrangement comprising a segmental gear 111, keyed to shaft 161 by a pin 112 and a nut I13, and a bevel gear 114, keyed to shaft 132 by pin I15. The remainder of the window regulating means includes a link 11.6 having its one end pivotally mounted to lever 152, by a pin I11, and having its other end pivotally mounted to lever 14.6, by a pin 118 (see Fig. 10). A stop lug 119 is secured to leg 165 of lever 162 (see Figs. 8, 11 and 12) and leg 152 of lever I46 is provided with a cutout portion 1:81 (see Fig. 12) both for purposes to be presently described. The link I16 and its pivotal mountings 111 and 118 cooperate with the pivot pin mounting 153 of layer 146 to provide a toggle joint or mechanism in the window regulating means disclosed in Figs. 7 to 12 of the drawings. This toggle joint connection locks the window 121 against movement from exteriorly of the body of the automobile and prevents actuation of the window regulating means. In other words link 116 forms a movable or rocking connection between the operating lever I46 and the segmental gear I11 which connection cannot be moved or released except by moving the lever I46 to thereby pull lever 162 therewith through this toggle linkage connection therebetween.

Fig. '7 shows the window 121 in closed position and Figs. 7 and 8 both show the window regulating means in a position to render the toggle joint of the regulating means effective to lock the window against movement exteriorly of, the automobile. Referring now to Fig. 8 it will be noted that the pivot pins 153, I11 and 118 have their centers in straight line vertical alignment with one another so that any twisting force applied to window 121 from outside the body of the vehicle, which would ordinarily rotate shaft 132, gears I14 and 111 and the shaft 161 about which lever 162 is rigidly secured, is neutralized or is ineffective to cause movement of the window regulating means. The shaft or bar I36 carrybag knob 144 is, when the toggle link 11.6 is in the position disclosed in Fig. 8, at the left hand end of slot 143, illustrated in dot-dash lines in Fig. .10 of the drawings. If it is desired to break or release the toggle lock or mechanism to effect movement of the regulating means and consequently window I2I, about its vertical mounting axis, the knob I44 is moved in a horizontal direction toward the right hand end of slot I43 to cause lever I46 to pivot about its mounting pin I53. The initial movement of lever I46 away from the left hand end of slot I43 is illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings wherein it will be noted that pin I18, secured to lever I46, has been moved in a clockwise direction out of straight line vertical alignment with the pin I11 to break or release the toggle lock. Further horizontal sliding movement of bar I36 within slot I43 rotates lever I46 in a clockwise direction and the link connection I16 between the levers I46 and I62 rotates lever I62 to cause the same to turn shaft I6I, segment gear HI and gear I14 to rotate shaft I32 for adjustably swinging window I2I about its vertical axis into the desired angle relative to door H6. When the regulating'means has been moved into the position shown in Figs. and 11 the rear edge of window I2I is rotated toward the front of the automobile so as to scoop air into the body thereof (see Fig. 11). The leg I52 of lever I46 would normally strike the shaft I6I when this lever is moved into the position shown in Fig. 10, but the cutout portion I8I permits a part of this one leg side I52 of lever I46 to move past the center of shaft I6I as is shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The stop lug I19 secured to leg I65 of lever I62 is adapted to engage the edge of leg I52 of lever I46 opposite the cutout edge portion I8I, to arrest any movement of lever I46 in a counterclockwise direction beyond the position thereof shown in Fig. 8. This prevents the link I16 from moving in a direction to render lever I46 inoperative while the regulating means is being repaired or adjusted.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that I have provided an improved manually actuated regulating means for adjusting the position of a wing type window radially about a vertical axis for effecting ventilation of the interior of an automobile or other vehicle. I have provided such a regulating means with a slide bar member which is operable back and forth in a horizontal direction from within the vehicle so as to eliminate conventional crank arms or the like and the problems involved in their use when simplifying the interior design and trim of automobiles. My improved window regulating means has incorporated therein a toggle connection or mechanism which in addition to locking the window closed and preventing movement of the window regulating means, by force applied to the window from the exterior of the automobile, also eliminates the necessity of providing a separate locking device for the window.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

'1. A ventilating window mounted in a wall of a vehicle for swinging movement about a vertical axi relative thereto, regulating means concealed within inner and outer panels of said wall for opening and closing said window, said regulating means comprising a toggle-joint mechanism and means for operating the same, said operating means including a member extending through a horizontal slot in said inner wall panel and being movable back and forth therein along said wall from within said vehicle and a connector between said member and said mechanism, said toggle-joint mechanism including a lever having one end pivotally mounted upon a part of said wall and having its other end movable about the pivotal mounting by movement of said operating member, said toggle-joint mechanism also including a link having one end pivotally mounted upon said lever intermediate the ends thereof and movable therewith and relative thereto, the other end of said link being pivotally attached to a window swinging element, and the pivot point of said other end of said link being movable, when the window is swung by said operating member into closed position, between and into straight line alignment with the pivot point of the mounting of said lever and the pivot point of the mounting of said link upon said lever for locking said window against movement from exteriorly of the vehicle.

2. A ventilating window mounted in a wall ,of a vehicle for swinging movement about a vertical axis relative thereto, regulating means concealed within inner and outer panels of said wall for opening and closing said window, said regulating means comprising a toggle-joint mechanism and means for operating the same, said operating means including a member extending through a horizontal slot in said inner wall panel and being movable back and forth therein along said wall from within said vehicle and av connector between said member and said mechanism, said toggle-joint mechanism including a lever having one end pivotally mounted about a vertical axis upon a part of said wall and having its other end movable horizontally about the pivotal mounting by movement of said operating member said toggle-joint mechanism also including a link having one end pivotally mounted upon said lever intermediate the ends thereof and movable therewith and relative thereto about a vertical axis, the other end of said link being pivotally attached about a vertical axis to a window swinging element, and the pivot point of said other end of said link being movable, when the window is swung by said operating member into closed position, between and into horizontal straight line alignment with the pivot point of the mounting of said lever and the pivot point of the mounting of said link upon said lever for locking said window against movement from exteriorly of the vehicle.

3. A ventilating window mounted in a wall of a vehicle for swinging movement about a vertical axis relative thereto, regulating means concealed within inner and outer panels of said wall for opening and closing said window, said regulating means comprising a toggle-joint mechanism and means for operating the same, said operating means including a member extending through a horizontal slot in said inner wall panel and being movable back and forth therein along said wall from within said vehicle and a connector between said member and said mechanism, said toggle-joint mechanism including a lever having one end pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis upon a part of said wall and having its other end movable vertically about the pivotal mounting by movement of said operating member, said toggle-joint mechanism also including a link having one end pivotally mounted upon said lever intermediate the ends thereof and movable therewith and relative thereto about a horizontal axis, the other end of said link being pivotally attached about a horizontal axis to a window swinging element, and the pivot point of said other end of said link being movable, when the window is 9 swung by 'said operating member into closed position between and into vertical straight line alignment with the pivot point of the mounting of said lever and the pivot point of the mounting of said linkupon said lever for locking said window against movement from exteriorly of the vehicle.

WILLIAM L. DENNIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Isbell July 19, 1887 Hub-bs Dec. 13, 1932 Mays June 23, 1936 Greif Nov. 7, 1939 Lester Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 9, 1949 Great Britain May 2, 1949 

